KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University has given permission to the Muslim Student Association to hand out leaflets this evening while two self-proclaimed former terrorists speak inside Miller Auditorium.

Walid Shoebat has raised the ire of Muslim students on other college campuses where he has given speeches. He will be joined by Kamal Saleem for the 7 p.m. presentation titled, "Why We Want to Kill You."

Halim Naeem, a member of the Muslim Student Association, said that Shoebat erroneously equates Islam with terrorism and uses inflammatory commentary that troubles not just followers of Islam.

"This isn't just the Muslim Student Association that is up in arms about this," Naeem, a graduate student, told the Gazette last week. "It's about the campus community (and) the image of Western."

Tipu Sultan, president of the Muslim Student Association, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Shoebat, who said he converted to Christianity 16 years ago, says radical Islam is a threat to the United States, and yet Americans don't grasp the gravity of it. A newly formed WMU student group called International Conservatives is sponsoring the presentation.

WMU spokeswoman Cheryl Roland said the administration has fielded complaints from students and faculty who say the posters promoting the event are offensive.
The posters feature two people, wearing headdresses covering all but their eyes, with the words "Why We Want to Kill You" at the top.